Name: Michele Bohlmann
Year: Junior
Hometown: Bradenton, Florida
Major: Exercise Science
Courtesy: FSU Quidditch
Her Campus (HC): What is your role on the field?
Michele Bohlmann (MB): On the field I play both chaser and beater. I originally started out as a chaser and picked up beating when we were running low on female beaters for an upcoming tournament. (You can only have 5 people of one gender on the field at a time).
HC: What is your role in administrative side of the sport?
MB: I am currently the Vice President for the club, so my duties mainly comprise of assisting our president, Audrey Wheeler, with anything she needs. We try to travel for tournaments, so I help organize those and I keep an eye on our budget as well. I am also in charge of our first 5K this year. That has been my major project, trying to organize everyone and put together an exciting event that will help us raise some funds for tournaments.
HC: Is Quidditch exclusively for Harry Potter fans only, or can non-fans enjoy?
MB: Quidditch is popular among everyone. In fact, several people on our team have never even seen the movies. That’s really the appeal of the sport: there is something for those who love the original series and those just looking for an athletic setting.
HC: How does it feel to bring a major trope from a fantasy series into reality?
MB: One of the things that has always inspired me about Quidditch is how much thought goes into the game. When the sport started at Middlebury College 10 years ago, I’m not sure anyone thought it would be the international sport it is now. To bring to life something “made-up” really shows the creativity of the sport and I think it creates something special and unique.
HC: What do you have to adapt in order to play in a non-magical setting?
MB: Two of the major adaptions are the brooms and the snitch. We use PVC-pipe for brooms, typically around four feet in length. You have to keep the broom between your legs at all times. The snitch is a person who wears shorts that have a ball attached to the back, flag-football style. So instead of chasing a flying orb around, our Seekers get to battle it out with a human snitch. So pulling the “flag” is just like catching the snitch and that ends the game.
Courtesy: FSU Quidditch
HC: What is your favorite part of being on the Quidditch team?
MB: My favorite part of being on the team is the people. Quidditch is really a great community, with so many diverse people. Not only do I love everyone on my team, but the other teams in the region are amazing as well. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming and it’s great to have this human network you get to be a part of.
HC: What are some ways to participate?
MB: If anyone from FSU is interested in play Quidditch, we host practices on the Main Campus Fields near St. Augustine St. on Thursdays and Sundays, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Dues are only $10 per semester and we accept any skill level. If someone is not in our area, I encourage them to contact their own college team to see how to join. We also have community teams, for people who are no longer in school and they bring together players from across the state. October 8th is our House Cup 5K and Fun Run. We would love to see people come out and there will be a costume contest! Nov. 5th will be our home tournament, Renegade Cup. Bring friends, family and enjoy watching colleges across the region compete! We will also be having a few Share-It nights at local restaurants, so check out our Facebook page for more info on those! This year, we’ll be participating in Dance Marathon, so check out our team page.
HC: Is there anything else you would like your fellow Noles to know about you or the Quidditch team?
MB: The Quidditch team is one of my favorite things about FSU. Truly, it is the perfect combination of fun, friends and getting in a good work out! I encourage anyone who might be even remotely interested to come out to a practice, or see one of our games.